Canadian Railroads > A few modifications to upcoming trips of The Canadian

Fire away all you haters, at least VIA is trying to do something about the mess that CN put them in!



VIA RAIL CANCELS TWO CANADIAN DEPARTURES
Friday, May 25th 2018

Montréal, May 25, 2018 – VIA Rail announces today the cancellation of two departures of its Canadian train, operating between Toronto and Vancouver, in order to make up the extended travel time caused by delays over the past few weeks.

“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused by the delays and the cancellation of these two departures. Over the last few months, we have taken several mitigation measures in order to limit the impact on the customer experience and on our employees’ work environment. We would like for our passengers to have a relaxing travel experience, that our on-train and in-station staff be given the rest time needed to accomplish their work with diligence and peace of mind, and that our maintenance crews are able to maintain our trains in the best possible condition. As such, we are aware of the constant efforts made by our employees on our trains, in our stations, in our call centres and in our maintenance centers, and on behalf of myself as well as all their colleagues, we extend our sincerest gratitude,” stated Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO of VIA Rail.

“At VIA Rail, nothing is more important than the safety and security of our passengers and employees. That is why we are currently working with our infrastructure partner on a new schedule, to start during the peak summer period, that will provide a longer but more predictable travel time,” added Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano.

Westbound
The following departure has been cancelled:

Train #1 scheduled to depart from Toronto on Thursday, May 24, postponed to Friday, May 25, arriving in Vancouver on Monday, May 28 (some passengers will travel on the train scheduled for departure on May 26) l Cancelled
Train #1 scheduled for departure on Sunday, May 26 will be maintained. Passengers are invited to arrive at Toronto Union Station at the usual time for departure at 10PM.

Eastbound
The following departure has been cancelled:

Train #2 scheduled to depart from Vancouver on Tuesday, May 29 (arrival in Toronto on Saturday, June 2) l Cancelled
The next # 2 trains scheduled to depart from Vancouver on Friday, May 25 and Sunday, May 27 will be maintained. Passengers are invited to arrive at Central Pacific Station at the usual time for a departure at 10:30PM.



Offer to customers holding a reservation on affected trains
VIA Rail is in communication with customers affected by the situation. Several options are available to those with a reservation for canceled trains. Prior to departure, all travellers who have not received a call are advised to contact a sales representative by phone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1-800-268-9503 (for the hard of hearing).



About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports approximately 4.4 million passengers annually. The Corporation has been awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. Visit the “About VIA Rail” section at: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail .

I guess that is is preferred rather than truncate a trip or two east of Winnipeg to catch up.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> I guess that is is preferred rather than truncate
> a trip or two east of Winnipeg to catch up.


Yes a perhaps people who do not know should stop posting what if's etc.........

New schedule coming.


"That is why we are currently working with our infrastructure partner on a new schedule,
to start during the peak summer period, that will provide a longer but more predictable travel time,” added Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano.

How did that work out when they last extended it by 11 hours ?

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> How did that work out when they last extended it
> by 11 hours ?


Ask the CNR!

CN has been abusing these trains for more than 20 years. Nothing will change.

toledopatch Wrote:
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> CN has been abusing these trains for more than 20
> years. Nothing will change.

.......and now they are all beat up and ride like JUNK!

Of course as something of a train 1-2 regular I hope with the schedule adjustments there will be improved timekeeping. But seems CN is bad everywhere! I just made reservations on North Shore Scenic Rail at Duluth, MN for a short 50 mile round trip Duluth to Two Harbors, MN. The info provided said in effect that CN freighttrain interference may cause significantdelays to the excursion train schedule which crosses CN ex DMIR trackage at Two Harbors. CN = Poor!!

Posted from Android

Why don't they just re-route the train over CP tracks as it was when It was privately run.

jfrank39 Wrote:
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> Why don't they just re-route the train over CP
> tracks as it was when It was privately run.

Don't think that you can wave a magic wand and have this happen quickly.

Is the Canadian a daily train? If not, it seems they should still have plenty of time to turn the train - even if it arrived 24 hours late.

Posted from Android

P Wrote:
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> Is the Canadian a daily train? If not, it seems
> they should still have plenty of time to turn the
> train - even if it arrived 24 hours late.
>
> Posted from Android


24 hours late? Last I looked yesterday, #1 was over 45 hours late.

viatrainrider Wrote:
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> Of course as something of a train 1-2 regular I
> hope with the schedule adjustments there will be
> improved timekeeping. But seems CN is bad
> everywhere! I just made reservations on North
> Shore Scenic Rail at Duluth, MN for a short 50
> mile round trip Duluth to Two Harbors, MN. The
> info provided said in effect that CN freighttrain
> interference may cause significantdelays to the
> excursion train schedule which crosses CN ex DMIR
> trackage at Two Harbors. CN = Poor!!
>
> Posted from Android

Yes, that happened to me last September when I rode the train to Two Harbors - we never made it. Had to turn around a couple miles from Two Harbors because CN wouldn't allow us in.

4489 Wrote:
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>... That is why we are currently working
> with our infrastructure partner on a new schedule,
> to start during the peak summer period, that will
> provide a longer but more predictable travel
> time,” added Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano.
>

Now that VIA has publicly admitted this plan, I can say a few words about a conversation I had on the Canadian seven months ago. I met a middle-manager from VIA's head office who was on holiday. We had a few conversations about the delays faced by the Canadian (which were not as bad then as they are now).

One thing being considered at that time by management was lengthening the train's schedule. Obviously a fifth consist would be required in peak season. When I enquired as to where the equipment would come from, this person said either the existing summer-length consists would need to be shortened or the fifth train would have to be made up with mostly Château sleepers and a regular, i.e. non-Prestige, Park car. In either case, there would be no Prestige service on the fifth consist. (This person is not in a position to be making any decisions of this nature.)

I suppose some Manor sleepers could be replaced with Château sleepers on the four main consists so all five could be similar with the exception of Prestige.

If VIA is going to convert another Park car and a Château sleeper or two to Prestige that is something I am unaware of, but if they do want to do that it won't be done quickly - or cheaply.

Too bad reroute on CP east of Winnipeg seems to be off the table, replace the White River RDC.
Run a Quebec style remote train Winnipeg - Capreol. At least it wont accrue a massive delay before it starts out of Winnipeg.

According to a review on tripadvisor,
the decision to cancel the #1 out of Toronto was made after passengers were told to come back after a 22 hour delay.
Must have been an abrupt decision.

tripadviser, Warren D, Brisbane, Australia

"Never ever book this trip. We had booked in Prestige class from Toronto to Vancouver 24th May 2018 12 months ago.
The day before our departure we were advised by email we would be 22 hours late,
Checked in for the trip then only to be told it was cancelled.
They said they had been trying to call the telephone numbers on the booking but we never received any calls.
Email arrived about an hour later advising us it was cancelled.
How can an operation like this continue to exist.
Please never ever consider booking this trip as it was just completely ruin your holiday."

Marcus Wrote:
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> According to a review on tripadvisor,
> the decision to cancel the #1 out of Toronto was
> made after passengers were told to come back after
> a 22 hour delay.
> Must have been an abrupt decision.
>
> tripadviser, Warren D, Brisbane, Australia
>
> "Never ever book this trip. We had booked in
> Prestige class from Toronto to Vancouver 24th May
> 2018 12 months ago.
> The day before our departure we were advised by
> email we would be 22 hours late,
> Checked in for the trip then only to be told it
> was cancelled.
> They said they had been trying to call the
> telephone numbers on the booking but we never
> received any calls.
> Email arrived about an hour later advising us it
> was cancelled.
> How can an operation like this continue to exist.
>
> Please never ever consider booking this trip as it
> was just completely ruin your holiday."

VIA should compensate people who travel from around the world to ride their trains, only to have them canceled. In this poor fellow’s case, VIA should pick up the airfare from Australia. Is THIS anyway to run a railroad?

4489 Wrote:
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> jfrank39 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why don't they just re-route the train over CP
> > tracks as it was when It was privately run.
>
> Don't think that you can wave a magic wand and
> have this happen quickly.


Well they have had 20 years to get this done.

jfrank39 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 4489 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jfrank39 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Why don't they just re-route the train over
> CP
> > > tracks as it was when It was privately run.
> >
> > Don't think that you can wave a magic wand and
> > have this happen quickly.
>
>
> Well they have had 20 years to get this done.

There has been no need until recently to even consider a reroute to CP.